Apparatus for front or rear extraction of an electrical contact from a connector housing

Abstract

A universally releasable and extractable retention clip for an electrical contact in a connector housing, the retention clip includes at least one arcuate element having a first end and a second end, and a retaining mechanism located between the first end and the second end which engages a first face and a second face of a collar around the electrical contact for removably retaining the electrical contact in the clip. The arcuate element is resiliently biased such that when the arcuate element is contacted near either its first end or second end with a release and extraction tool, the retaining mechanism is disengaged from both the first face and the second face of the collar simultaneously so that the electrical contact can be extracted from the front or rear of the connector housing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A retaining clip for receiving a collar on an electrical contact, the collar having a first face and a second face, said clip comprising: at least one arcuate element having a first end and a second end, and a retaining means located between the first end and the second end adapted to engage the first face and second face of the collar for removably retaining the electrical contact in the clip, said arcuate element being resiliently biased such that when the arcuate element is deflected the first end, the retaining means is consequently and substantially simultaneously disengaged from both the first face and the second face.   
     
     
       2. The clip of claim 1, wherein when the arcuate element is contacted near the second end, the retaining means is disengaged from both the first face and the second face. 
     
     
       3. The clip of claim 1, comprising: at least two arcuate elements connected at their first ends respectively by a base.   
     
     
       4. The clip of claim 1 wherein the retaining means, comprises: a first tab having a collar engaging end and extending from a first surface of the arcuate element; and   a second tab having a collar engaging end spaced opposite from said first tab and extending from the first surface of the arcuate element;   said first tab and second tab are spaced from each other such that the collar engaging end of the first tab engages the first face of the collar and the collar engaging end of the second tab engages the second face of the collar to removably retain the electrical contact in the clip.   
     
     
       5. A connector comprising: a housing having at least one receptacle;   at least one retaining element in the receptacle having a first end and a second end, and a retaining means located between the first end and the second end for receiving a collar on an electrical contact, said retaining means adapted to engage a first face and a second face of the collar for removably retaining the electrical contact in the housing, said retaining element is bowed away from a wall of the receptacle and is resiliently biased such that when the retaining element is deflected near its first end toward the wall of the receptacle the retaining means is consequently and substantially simultaneously disengaged from both the first face and the second face.   
     
     
       6. The connector of claim 5, wherein when the retaining element is deflected near its second end toward the wall of the receptacle the retaining means is disengaged from both the first face and the second face. 
     
     
       7. The connector of claim 5, comprising: at least two retaining elements connected at their first ends respectively by a base.   
     
     
       8. The connector of claim 5 wherein the retaining means, comprises: a first tab having a collar engaging end and extending from a first surface of the retaining element; and   a second tab having a collar engaging end spaced opposite from said first tab and extending from the first surface of the retaining element;   said first tab and second tab are spaced from each other such that the collar engaging end of the first tab engages the first face of the collar and the collar engaging end of the second tab engages the second face of the collar to removably retain the electrical contact in the connector.   
     
     
       9. The connector of claim 5 wherein the electrical contact is a pin. 
     
     
       10. The connector of claim 5 wherein the electrical contact is a socket. 
     
     
       11. A connector comprising: a housing having a plurality of passages; and   at least one retention insert in each of the passages having a cantilevered spring element extending from a partial cylindrical base of the retention insert;   said cantilevered spring element having a first end, a second end and a retaining means located between the first end and the second end for receiving a collar on an electrical contact;   said retaining means adapted a first shoulder and a second shoulder of the collar for removably retaining the electrical contact in the housing;   said cantilevered spring element is resiliently biased away from a wail of the passage such that when the cantilevered spring element is deflected near its first end toward the wall of the passage, the retaining means is consequently and substantially simultaneously moved away from both the first shoulder and the second shoulder.   
     
     
       12. The connector of claim 11, wherein when the cantilevered spring element is deflected near its second end toward the wall of the passage, the retaining means is moved away from both the first shoulder and the second shoulder. 
     
     
       13. The connector of claim 11 wherein the retaining means, comprises: a first extension having a collar engaging end and extending from a surface of the cantilevered spring element toward the center of the passage; and   a second extension having a collar engaging end spaced opposite from said first extension and extending from the surface of the cantilevered spring element toward the center of the passage;   said first extension and second extension are spaced from each other such that the collar engaging end of the first extension engages the first shoulder of the collar and the collar engaging end of the second extension engages the second shoulder of the collar to removably retain the electrical contact in the connector.   
     
     
       14. The connector of claim 11 wherein the electrical contact is a pin. 
     
     
       15. The connector of claim 11 wherein the electrical contact is a socket.